Western appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??, 1887-05-07
JOHNNIE'S LESSON.

t.- = Z
johnnie Carr was q bright, pleasant
boy and general favorite in the town.
where he lived. Hisparents loved him
very much, but like other boys, he had
his faults.
One was, reluctant obedience. He
always intended to obey his father and
mother, but wanted to do it in his own.
time and his own way.
One Saturday afternoon he was sent
to the store for oil. His mother said:
'.Go straight there, johnnie, and
don't stop anywhere
Johnnie promised but on the way, he
met Nicholas Barnes, called for short.
mick" He was a new boy in town,
and had several times made great
deal of trouble for his folks. Johnnie
had promised not to have anything to
do with Nick.
But Nick had met Johnnie few
days before, and offered him some
candy. Johnnie took it, saying to him
self. ..Nickis not so bad as some peo-
people think
This time Nick met him as if he had
been an old friend asking s.Where you
guangP'
''Store for oil, = replied Johnnie.
.'How much money you gotp''
johnnie showed bright piece of.
silver.
''AIl that for oilp'' asked Nick.
Eyes"
mo change backp Not a red,
Johnnie??"
''Not red, answered Johnnie.
Nick thought a moment. then began
to talk OF something very different
.'When we going to have some choco-
late creamsp''
Johnnie's mouth Watered, for he was
very fond of that kind of confectionery.
He sighed as he said: Dunno, money
is scarce down our way =
They were now nearing the church.
'Let's sit down here on the odd
South steps and talk it over,'' said
Nick. ..Let's see, I treated on cho-
colates last time, now it's your turn
Johnnie hadn't thought of that when
he accepted half the contents of the
candy bag! For the first time it dawned
upon him that Nick would expect him
to return the compliment He said:
| dunno when it'll be Nick. PAS
sold one of his horses cause he was
short for money; he's going to make
one do all the work, SO I don't think.
Ill get much spending money this.
summer"
Suddenly a queer look came over
Nick's face. He spoke quickly, but in
a low Tone
."Youj just keep still minute, Johnnie,
I'll tell you something
He dashed away without giving any
information. Johnnie kept ssstill''
until heWas tired of it; and was about
starting for the store when Nick. APP
peared, very much excited.
''Johnnie, he said,' we can have
some chocolates to-day
elbow SOP
cit came into my head Just now
when | see the old sexton going down
into the gravey ard, = said Nick. "He's
left the church open, the cellar doors
unlocked and there's whole barrel of
kerosene in there!''
As the plan flashed upon Johnnie,s
mind, his face grew very red Nick
did not seem to notice this and went
on:
.'Let's FILL the can, who'll know the
diferenceP I guess two quarts of oil.
won't kill nobody
johnnie was greatly shocked, but be-
fore he could speak Nick disappeared
with the can. When he returned it was
full. He passed it to Johnnie, who
shrank back.
81 can't take the oil. Nick; it don't
belong to me. It's stealing.
ssStea1ingp Oh, no, . said Nick
slowly. .sNow you look here, this oil
belongs to the parish, and yonr pa is
one ofthem. So you see part Of the
oil is his n
He stopped suddenly with a look of
fright, the old sexton was returning.
Evidently Nick thought his argument.
would not convince him, for he said
hurriedly.
1T wont do for us to hang round
here any longer, he'll know the
whole thing. Let's hide the can and
have some fun up town.
As they went, Nick seeing that
Johnnie did not feel right about it,
said.
The South church folks are as rich
as mud. An old Teller died here once,
and left them piles of money to run
things with. So this oil don't come 8
them. ItWont hurt them to give us a
little once in while, as longs they
got whole barrel, IF the sexton
don't lock up the oil cellar I'm going
to fill mothers can
BY this time the boys had arrived at
the store. Soon their pockets were full
of chocolates. Johnnie did not enjoy
them SO much as usual, he began to feel
sick. This was soon explained away
by the bad boy. He said some Of the.
oil on their hands had got on the
candy; and he was feeling very much
the same, which was some comfort.
That night Johnnie was very i'll, and
tossed sleeplessly in his little bed